Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

High-Tech Industry Division, VIP Meeting Room No. 1.

Thomas sat back down in the leather chair, but the arrogance in his icy blue eyes hadn't faded; instead, it had been replaced by a greedy, increasingly audacious glint.

He saw through the true nature of the Chinese representative before him: outwardly strong but inwardly weak, eager for quick success, and fundamentally ignorant of technology.

"Since Mr. Zhao is so eager to reach a cooperation agreement, then we can talk some more."

Thomas snapped his fingers, and the legal counsel behind him immediately handed him a thick document. He casually tossed the document onto the large conference table, where it slid half a meter before stopping right in front of Zhao Ruihu.

"This is the latest supplementary agreement that our M Group headquarters rushed to produce overnight."

Thomas leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced on his stomach, and said in an unquestionable tone, "The original joint venture plan needs some minor 'adjustments.' After all, the market environment in your country is uncertain, and we need a higher risk premium."

Zhao Ruihu eagerly opened the agreement.

Although he couldn't understand the complicated technical terms, he could still recognize the Arabic numerals on the paper.

After reading only the first two pages, the smile on his face froze completely.

"This... Mr. Thomas, why has the consultation fee tripled?"

Zhao Ruihu's voice trembled slightly as he pointed to an astronomical figure on the contract. "It was originally set at two hundred million US dollars per year, but now it's six hundred million? And we have to pay for five years upfront? This doesn't comply with our approval process!"

Three billion US dollars. That's over 20 billion RMB in China! And this is just the so-called "technical consulting fee"—not even a single screw has been provided. This is blatant robbery!

"Technology has value, Mr. Zhao."

Thomas shrugged, as if it were a matter of course. "Our R&D investment in EUV light sources is enormous. This $600 million is just the basic cost of maintaining our patent pool."

"Of course, that's not the most important thing."

Thomas leaned forward, placing his hands on the table, staring at Zhao Ruihu with an extremely imposing gaze.

"The most important one is the third one."

"To ensure the technological security of the joint venture and prevent our core secrets from being 'illegally stolen,' the chairman and chief technology officer of the joint venture must be appointed by our M Group. The Chinese side... can only act as a financial investor and will not participate in any day-to-day management or technology research and development."

Upon hearing this, the section chiefs accompanying Zhao Ruihu gasped in shock.

They provided the money, the land, and the policies. And in the end, they couldn't even get management rights? This isn't a joint venture; this is like spending hundreds of billions to bring back a foreign ancestor to worship!

If this is signed, it will be an absolutely unequal treaty that humiliates and destroys the country! If it gets out, the people will have their backs broken!

"This...this is too harsh!" Cold sweat broke out on Zhao Ruihu's forehead as he stammered, trying to bargain.

"Mr. Thomas, we can discuss the management rights issue. Even if it's just 50/50..."

"No."

Thomas coldly interrupted him, leaving no room for negotiation.

"This is the bottom line. M Group's technology must never fall into the hands of managers who are not under our control."

He glanced at his watch, stood up, and looked down at the bewildered official from the Dragon Kingdom.

"Mr. Zhao, I just saw your new director in the corridor."

Thomas curled his lips into a mocking sneer.

"I've heard he's a troublemaker. If this project falls into his hands, I think we might not even have a chance to sit down and talk. This is your best chance to prove yourself."

"I'll give you five minutes to think about it."

"Sign it, or we can go to the airport now."

A threat, a blatant threat.

Thomas had a keen understanding of Zhao Ruihu's eagerness to claim credit and establish his authority in front of Liu Ming. He knew that such politicians would sell their souls for their positions, let alone the interests of the nation.

Zhao Ruihu stared intently at the pen on the table. He was struggling internally.

It's signed. This is a traitorous clause.

But once the contract is finalized and the project starts, he can claim that he withstood the pressure and brought in the world's top technology. This enormous achievement would be enough for him to step over Liu Ming's head and directly enter the highest levels of government's purview!

As for management rights? As for the extra billions of US dollars? Anyway, it's all the country's money being spent, so what does it have to do with Zhao Ruihu? As long as he can get promoted, as long as he can crush Liu Ming, it's all worth it!

The insane lust for power ultimately triumphed over that insignificant bottom line.

"it is good."

Zhao Ruihu gritted his teeth, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"I'll sign!"

He grabbed the Montblanc pen from the table and pulled off the cap.

Several section chiefs nearby tried to stop him, but were silenced by his murderous glare.

Thomas laughed. His laugh was filled with contempt for the land and its officials.

Zhao Ruihu's wrist pressed down on the shameful contract. The pen tip had already touched the paper. The blue ink was about to draw the first stroke of that sin.

At this critical moment.

"Bang!"

The conference room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. The loud bang made the coffee cups on the table jump.

A tall, slender figure strode in as if carrying a thunderous storm.

"Click".

A powerful hand pressed down firmly on Zhao Ruihu's hand that was holding the pen!

The force was so great that Zhao Ruihu felt as if his wrist bones were about to be crushed.

"Liu...Liu Ming?"

Zhao Ruihu looked up in horror and met those cold, sharp eyes that seemed to freeze the soul.

Liu Ming didn't look at him. Instead, she slapped him with her backhand.

"Whoosh!"

He forcibly pulled that thick supplementary agreement from Zhao Ruihu's hands.

He glanced at the arrogant English terms on the contract.

A wild, extremely dangerous smirk curled at the corner of his lips.

"Deputy Director Zhao."

Liu Ming's voice echoed in the conference room, carrying a chilling, murderous aura.

"Taking the country's hard-earned money to act as someone else's dog."

"This brushstroke."

"You fucking think you're qualified to sign?"